The National Book Festival held on the National Mall in Washington, DC will be on September 22 and 23 this year. There usually isn't any representation by romance authors or, if any, there might be just one author from that genre. This year that appears to be the case. Apparently, Eloisa James will be giving a talk in the fiction and mystery tent on Sunday afternoon.

Lois McMaster Bujold will also be speaking on Sunday afternoon. Wish I lived closer!

check your c-span programing they cover the speakers maybe not all but you have to look and you might find they are going to cover her. I have to remember today to look this up for myself, I love listening to authors speak about their books. Even the driest topics of economics, politics, education, I don't care a good speaker is a pleasure to listen too and can make topics I wouldn't normally have an interest in sound so interesting that I sometimes think I might actually read their book, but sadly on those topics the talk is enough to satisfy.

I didn't realize romance wasn't represented at this event. Seems a little snobby, unless there is another more lodgical reason. I mean I enjoy all types of books so why would one genre be excluded?

No, you've got it. It's snobby. After all, two of the five or so tents they now have are labeled "Mystery and Fiction" and "Science Fiction and Fantasy." So, three other genres are worthy of singling out, but not Romance. When a romance author is featured, it's under another umbrella: Sandra Brown in Mystery, Diana Gabaldon in Fiction, Eloisa James in Fiction. I know this type of event is planned out way in advance, but I'm surprised they're not trying to ride the "50 Shades of Grey" popularity and feature romance fiction, even if it shares a tent with another genre. Maybe next year ... but I doubt it.

I followed her on Twitter when she was living in Italy with ther husband and family. She was very, very interesting. I can imagine that she would be a wonderful speaker._________________"As you wish"
~The Princess Bride

I followed her on Twitter when she was living in Italy with ther husband and family. She was very, very interesting. I can imagine that she would be a wonderful speaker.

Paris. I really enjoyed her book about living there for the year. She was so entertaining when writing about her kids failing classes except English and all their little dramas. She must have children like mine.

I followed her on Twitter when she was living in Italy with ther husband and family. She was very, very interesting. I can imagine that she would be a wonderful speaker.

Paris. I really enjoyed her book about living there for the year. She was so entertaining when writing about her kids failing classes except English and all their little dramas. She must have children like mine.

Right...Paris. I thought Italy because her husband is Italian. Anyway, her tweets were so much fun when she was living there._________________"As you wish"
~The Princess Bride

I was away for the weekend and was unable to read the Sunday paper until today. I noted that there's a "Book World" supplement for that day dedicated to the National Book Festival. The very first article is by Eloisa James and is a full page. It's titled, "A Shakespearean romance novelist plays many parts."

I was away for the weekend and was unable to read the Sunday paper until today. I noted that there's a "Book World" supplement for that day dedicated to the National Book Festival. The very first article is by Eloisa James and is a full page. It's titled, "A Shakespearean romance novelist plays many parts."

Thank you for the link, what a nice message from Mary/Eloise. I feel for her on her big day, it is like being asked to speak was the greatest honour and the greatest moments of self doubt wrapped up in one. Funny to think someone with such great success could feel less worthy then others invited for the same honour.